Category: movies

Lael’s Record Cycling Around the World

On By Rick McIn cycling, moviesLeave a comment

Full Documentary.

Lael Wilcox is my cycling inspiration.

Incredible positive and upbeat.

In 2024, Lael Wilcox set a new world record for circumnavigation of the earth by bicycle.

For 108 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes she rode, joined by friends and fans, with her journey documented by Rugile Kaladyte.

This is the film of that ride, filled with highs and lows, incredible roads, friends and fans. Beyond the record, it’s about the experience and the connections made, and how the bicycle makes it possible.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (90min.)

Dune: Prophecy – season 1

On By Rick McIn books, movies, TVLeave a comment

Worth watching. But not essential unless you a Dune nutcase.

Too much palace intrigue. Too dark. Too confusing.

There are some beautiful visuals, of course.

A big Dune fan, I was sceptical whether I’d enjoy the TV spinoff on one of the universe’s most appealing elements: the Bene Gesserit.

Dune: Prophecy is a prequel to the Denis Villeneuve films Dune and Dune: Part Two, taking place approximately 10,000 years earlier.

It draws upon, but is set after, the Great Schools of Dune novel trilogy (2012–2016) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. 

The show was met with mixed reviews, with a 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and an even lower 66% Audience Score. ..,

… it “lacks the spice of Denis Villeneuve’s films,” …

What Went Wrong With Dune: Prophecy

I wasn’t really cheering any of the characters. But Travis Fimmel as Desmond Hart is intriguing.

Perhaps more humour would have helped. The dialogue is dry.

I expect season 2 to be much stronger. This epic TV series has potential.

WHAT will replace your Phone and Laptop?

On By Rick McIn Apple, internet, movies, music, photos, videoLeave a comment

Former lead Apple designer and founder of io Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believe you will eventually simply stand in front of a monitor a tell it what to do. (Elon Musk would claim that you could simply THINK it what to do. 😀)

Create a feature film, for example.

A.I. image

The new A.I. device MIGHT look something like an iPod Shuffle you can wear around your neck.

Click PLAY or watch an opinion on YouTube. I don’t agree with Matthew regarding Apple Vision Pro — it’s likely an intermediate step towards the future. Eventually you won’t need A.I. glasses

The Studio – season 1

On By Rick McIn movies, TVLeave a comment

The Studio is an American satirical cringe comedy-drama television series created by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, and Frida Perez. It stars Rogen as an embattled Hollywood studio head struggling to balance corporate demands with his own passion for producing quality films.  …

It’s brilliant in many ways. The extensive use of long takes. The celebrity cameos.

I’m sure actors loved mocking their industry.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

It’s hilarious that the BIG PROJECT planned is a movie version of … Kool-Aid. They want to make billions as did Barbie. 😀

BUT — excessive profanity ruined The Studio for me.

Martin Scorsese told him he says ‘f‑‑‑’ too much.

Overuse of profanity is weak writing. Weak storytelling. This show would have been better with less swearing.

Here’s Seth Rogen defending his overuse of profanity.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.



Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

On By Rick McIn books, moviesLeave a comment

Another book where young people kill one another. These are shockingly successful.

… Sunrise on the Reaping contains enough both to snare new readers and to satisfy the most bloodthirsty fans.
Guardian review

Sunrise on the Reaping (2025) is a dystopian novel by American author Suzanne Collins.

… the second prequel novel to the original The Hunger Games trilogy, following The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020). …

Set 24 years before the events of the first novel, the narrative delves into themes of political manipulation, the power of propaganda, and the complexities of societal control under a totalitarian regime and centers on the 50th Hunger Games …

We are cheering:

  • Haymitch Abernathy – male tribute from District 12
  • Maysilee Donner – female tribute from District 12

Needless to say, this book is a huge hit, the biggest debut for any title in Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games series.

Woody Harrelson plays Haymitch in the Catching Fire film. … Many years later.

Joseph Zada and Woody

The next will star Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy & Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner.

The Accountant (2016 film)

On By Rick McIn moviesLeave a comment

I’m no particular fan of Ben Affleck — but The Accountant is a good romp. … It doesn’t hurt that Anna Kendrick is even more adorable than usual. 😀

A typical American shoot-em-up. But with redeeming qualities.

Great cast.

A man who goes by the alias Christian Wolff is on the autism spectrum.

His military PsyOps father begins training him and his brother Braxton in various martial arts. Both become super skilled.

As an adult, Christian acts as a forensic accountant for criminal organizations, “un-cooking” their financial records to uncover thefts. 

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I hear the 2025 sequel is not nearly as good.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024 TV)

On By Rick McIn movies, TVLeave a comment

I wanted to like this series. Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

GUTSY to be compared against Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in the 2005 film.

I liked the natural dialogue.

I really enjoyed the international travel.

Terrific guest stars.

Donald Glover and Maya Erskine are believable as two strangers paired up as a duo of spies who must live undercover as a married couple.

Reviews are good. It’s been nominated for many awards.

BUT — I was disappointed with the cliche shoot-em-up scenes where the good guys are never hit.

It could have been better.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Barbie (2023 film)

On By Rick McIn ethics, moviesLeave a comment

I unexpectedly liked Wicked – the movie. … SO decided to try Barbie – the movie.

… the first live-action Barbie film after numerous animated films and specials.

Starring Margot Robbie as the title character and Ryan Gosling as Ken, the film follows them on a journey of self-discovery through Barbieland and the real world following an existential crisis.  …

Like Wicked, I loved the start of the film. The concept. The original look of the sets.

… BUT at some point I got bored. The novelty wore off.

By the end I found it too preachy.

Director Gerwig calls the over the top messaging maximalism.

“heightened theatricality that allows you to deal with big ideas in the midst of anarchic play”

It didn’t work for me.

Thumbs down.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

On the other hand, I found Allan hilarious.

Allan Sherwood is a fictional character introduced in 1964 as Ken‘s friend. Played by Michael Cera in the movie.

His pregnant wife Midge shows up in the movie, as well.

Wicked – the movie

On By Rick McIn movies2 Comments

When  Wicked (2024)  was released, I had zero interest in seeing it.

But when it showed up FREE on Amazon Prime, I gave it a shot.

Wow.

Fantastic!

I don’t know on whom to heap praise. Director Jon M. Chu? Writers Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox?

It adapts the first act of the 2003 stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, which was loosely based on Gregory Maguire‘s 1995 novel, itself a reimagining of the Oz books and the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

Jonathan Bailey was impressive as Fiyero. At least as charismatic an egomaniac as Ariana Grande / Galinda Upland — and she’s perfect in that role. Self-obsessed.

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp has a more complicated role.

The songs aren’t great. But I did enjoy Defying Gravity.

It should have been much SHORTER. It would have been near perfect at about 100 minutes. At times it felt 1000 minutes long. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Certain Prey by John Sandford (1999)

On By Rick McIn books, movies1 Comment

Lucas Davenport vs Clara Rinker.

Pretty. 5’3″ or so.

Clara’s had a tough life. Raped by her step father. Ran away to become a teenaged stripper.

Her main job now is to run the bar she owns in Wichita, Kansas – The Rink.

Side job ➙ Hitwoman. And she’s very good at killing people. The best hitwoman in the business.

And in this book, Rinker partners up with another killer. Double trouble.

Her latest hit sounds simple: a defense attorney wants a rival eliminated. No problem—until a witness survives. Clara usually knows how to deal with loose ends: cut them off, one by one, until they’re all gone. This time, there’s one loose end that’s hard to shake.

Lucas Davenport has no idea of the toll this case is about to take on him. Clara knows his weak spots. She knows how to penetrate them, and how to use them. And when a woman like Clara has the advantage, no one is safe.

Rinker returns in another book ➙ Mortal Prey.

This is one of the Prey books adapted for a TV movie (2012). Mark Harmon plays Davenport.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.